Anticipate |anˈtɪsɪpeɪt| verb [ with obj. ] regard as probable ; expect or predict : she anticipated contempt on her return to the theatre | [ with clause ] : it was anticipated that the rains would slow the military campaign. • guess or be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared: they failed to anticipate a full-scale invasion . • look forward to : Stephen was eagerly anticipating the break from the routine of business. • come or take place before   (an event or process expected or scheduled for a later time). this is to anticipate the argument. DERIVATIVES anticipative adjective, anticipator noun ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (in the senses ‘to take something into consideration’, ‘mention something before the proper time’): from Latin anticipat- ‘acted in advance’, from anticipare, based on ante- ‘before’ capere ‘take’. Thesaurus anticipate verb 1 the police did not anticipate any trouble: expect , foresee , predict , ...